YMCA thanks its 230 volunteers at annual recognition event

GREENFIELD — About 100 people attended a YMCA Volunteer Recognition Event at the Country Club of Greenfield to celebrate the importance of the Y’s 230 volunteers and what was accomplished by the 6,000 hours of service they performed this year.

Ten volunteers received special recognition for their service and the 2013 Family of the Year was honored.

Bob Sunderland, YMCA executive director, said “We have twice as many volunteers as paid staff. Volunteers are critical to our Y’s focus on Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. Volunteers help with every youth program from our Full Day Preschool to youth sports. Volunteers also participate in social responsibility activities like Community Meals, Adopt a Family, Warm the Children and many others. Our YMCA also has volunteer management committees, board of directors and fundraisers. Volunteers create our strategic plan and help our staff accomplish these goals. In other words, volunteers are the backbone of our YMCA.”